Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay — A ₱126.5-million farm-to-market road project in Barangay Sulo is expected to improve agricultural transport and market access for 586 families as the government pushes rural infrastructure development under the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project Scale-Up.
Key Takeaways
- ₱126.5-million road project: The government is building a 5.18-kilometer farm-to-market road in Barangay Sulo, Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.
- 586 families expected to benefit: The project aims to improve market access and livelihood opportunities for residents, particularly farmers producing rubber and copra.
- Construction is more than 53% complete: Work began in May 2025, according to government-provided project information.
- Better agricultural transport: The road is expected to ease the movement of farm products from production areas to buyers and markets.
- Public accountability remains important: Construction progress, engineering standards and the efficient use of public funds are essential to delivering the promised benefits.
- Improved rural connectivity: The project is also expected to facilitate access to government programs and essential services.
The project involves concreting a 5.18-kilometer road intended to improve connectivity for residents, particularly farmers transporting rubber and copra from production areas to buyers and markets.
Construction began in May 2025 and has reached more than 53% completion, according to project information provided by the government.
Once completed, the road is expected to ease transportation difficulties, improve the movement of agricultural products and support economic activity in the farming community.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Agriculture to accelerate farm-to-market road projects while ensuring the efficient use of public funds and the integrity of infrastructure delivery.
The administration considers these roads essential to improving agricultural productivity, strengthening food supply chains and connecting farmers to markets.
The Naga project is part of the DA-PRDP Scale-Up, which supports rural infrastructure intended to link agricultural production areas with trading centers and improve livelihood opportunities in farming communities.
Improved access to markets and services
The road is expected to make transporting rubber and copra more convenient for local producers, potentially helping them move their harvests to buyers more efficiently.
Better road access may also improve mobility for residents and facilitate the delivery of government programs and essential services to the 586 beneficiary families.
However, the extent of the benefits will depend on the road’s completion, construction quality and ability to address the transport challenges experienced by farmers and other residents.
The project’s reported completion rate will need to be assessed against its construction schedule and the government’s target for delivering the finished road.
Infrastructure and accountability
The government has said safety measures are being implemented at the construction site to protect workers and motorists while work continues.
Efficient implementation and proper use of public funds remain important considerations for infrastructure projects intended to strengthen rural livelihoods.
Project records, including the construction timetable, engineering specifications and accomplishment reports, would help establish whether the road is progressing as planned and meeting the required standards.
For farmers, the project’s long-term value will ultimately depend on whether improved access translates into more efficient transport, better connections to buyers and sustained economic opportunities.
Through the DA-PRDP Scale-Up, the government aims to strengthen rural connectivity and support agricultural development. The Barangay Sulo project reflects that objective, with its anticipated benefits extending beyond transportation to the movement of goods, people, and essential services.
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